Delhi government clears Rs.584 crore for roads, drains

The Delhi government Wednesday approved 31 projects worth Rs.584 crore, of which Rs.492 crore would be spent on battered roads maintained by corporations.

Of the 31 projects, 27 are of the Public Works Department (PWD) and four are of the Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) department.

"The expenditure finance committee (EFC) has sanctioned Rs.492 crore to improve 26 roads as they are in bad shape and are not motorable," a Delhi government statement said.

According to the statement, the 26 roads would have a comprehensive development, which includes surface repair, strengthening footpaths and drains, upgraded signages and street lights, horticulture features on central verges and footpath and maintenance for five years.

The EFC has also ratified widening of the Mehrauli-Mahipalpur road from Andheria More to Masoodpur in south Delhi at an estimated cost of Rs.58.21 crore.

"Widening, strengthening, improvement of a segment of 3.5 km (of road) from Andheria More to Masoodpur is essential as it would decongest NH-8 at Mahipalpur, resulting in huge savings in fuel consumption and travel time," the statement said.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, who chaired the meeting, said: "Most roads in rural parts (of Delhi) would get facelift. It would go a long way in providing a longer-lasting road network in rural and nearby urban localities."

Besides roads, the EFC has also approved three projects of I&FC.

"Out of the four, three projects have been approved at cost of Rs.34 crore in Kirari Suleman Nagar in outer Delhi where modern machines are procured for desilting drains, construction of boundary walls along the left bank of Najafgarh drain in west Delhi and widening of existing road on the right bank of Bawana outer Delhi escape drain," the statement said.

Dikshit said the city government has initiated an ambitious road infrastructure development programme with an estimated cost of over Rs.2,000 crore.